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Business Exit Ready

The Nine Keys

Nine parts of your business. One clear score.

The Nine Keys bring the main parts of your business into one picture. They run in this order: Strategy, Administration, Money, Marketing, Sales, Service, Systems, Team and Leadership.

Each Key gets a score out of 100. Strong Keys push the wheel out to the rim. Weak ones pull it in. At 100 on every Key, it's perfectly round.

Interactive wheel

Explore your business through the eyes of a buyer.

A buyer looks at every part of your business. Pick a Key to see what they may ask, why it matters, and what you get when that Key is strong. The same questions matter if you plan to keep the business.

Tap a Key on the wheel to see what a buyer may ask.

Nine keys. One clear score. 1 Strategy, 2 Administration, 3 Money, 4 Marketing, 5 Sales, 6 Service, 7 Systems, 8 Team, 9 LeadershipStrategy1Administration2Money3Marketing4Sales5Service6Systems7Team8Leadership9NINEKEYS

Key 1 of 9 Foundations

Strategy

Know where you're going and how you'll win. Set off with no destination and you end up anywhere.

A buyer may ask
"Is there a written plan, and does the team know it?"
Why it matters
A buyer wants to see where the business is going, on paper. A plan that lives in your head leaves with you.
What you get
You stop reacting to the week and start steering. Your team pulls in the same direction, and you decide how and when you step back.
Read the Strategy guide

Three groups

The Nine Keys sit in three groups of three.

Get the foundations right, look after your customers, then build a business that runs without you. Pick any Key to read its guide.

Foundations

Know where you're going, keep things in order, and know your numbers.

  1. 1

    Strategy

    Know where you're going and how you'll win. Set off with no destination and you end up anywhere.

  2. 2

    Administration

    Your time and the paperwork. The little things done, so nothing slips.

  3. 3

    Money

    Your numbers are your gauges. They tell you how healthy your business is.

Customers

Attract the right customers, win the jobs you want, and do great work every time.

  1. 4

    Marketing

    Attract the right customers. A-grade clients, not whoever rings.

  2. 5

    Sales

    A simple process, and ask for the yes. Win the jobs you want, not the ones you have to take. Two ears, one mouth.

  3. 6

    Service

    Great work every time, so customers walk away saying "wow".

Running without you

Simple systems, the right people and good leaders, so the business runs without you.

  1. 7

    Systems

    The simple way things get done, so it runs without you. Every Key has one.

  2. 8

    Team

    The right people in the right seats. Hire slowly. Build a team that works without you.

  3. 9

    Leadership

    Lead by example. Have the tough talks, and don't forget the pat on the back.

Free Exit-Ready Score

Where is your wheel flat?

Answer 23 questions and see your Exit-Ready Score, the shape of your wheel, and the three Keys to fix first.

  • 23 questions
  • About six minutes
  • Free
Get your free score